City's Health and Human Services director Ron Arias to retire

LONG BEACH - Ron Arias announced plans Thursday to retire as director of the city's Department of Health and Human Services at the end of the year.

"It's a good time for me," he said. "There are things I want to pursue."

City Manager Pat West offered high praise for the veteran director.

"Ron will be terribly missed," West said in a prepared statement. "His passion for the community and his commitment to the health profession is unmatched, and we have been lucky to have such a committed health professional as our director."

Arias has been director of the Health Department since February 2000.

Prior to that, from 1990, Arias was the manager of the Public Health Bureau.

During his tenure with the city, Long Beach has established the Miller Family Health Education Center, the Long Beach Community Health Councils, and the creation of the Community Health Research Studies (CHRS I and II).

As director, Arias helped to establish and implement the city's first 100 percent no-smoking ordinance, initiated chronic disease prevention programs, including the childhood obesity prevention programs, and better connect the department with the community through targeted outreach and educational programs.

"It's been wonderful," Arias said. "It's been fantastic."

Arias has received several significant recognitions, including Cal State Long Beach's Distinguished Alumnus. He graduated from Long Beach in 1971 with a degree in physical education, and earned a master's in public administration from USC.

He also received the Ruth and Milton Roemer Award for public health leadership from the Southern California Public Health Association, and the Crockett Memorial Award from the American Lung Association.

Arias' work in public health extends to the 1970s, when he worked for the Community Health Foundation of Los Angeles, the Health Systems Agency for Los Angeles County and the American Lung Association.

The director has been a resident of Long Beach for more than 40 years, with his wife, Phyllis, who is a professor at Long Beach City College.

Arias will continue to serve as director until the end of the year, while the city will launch a transition plan.